Challenges and Alternatives for the Adaptation to Climate Change in Nicaragua

Challenges and Alternatives for the Adaptation to Climate Change in Nicaragua

US Ambassador Phyllis M. Powers reiterates the importance of community participation in the preparation of climate adaptation plans.
The USAID Local Governance Program (LGP) is helping to address climate change adaptation issues in the Southern Caribbean Coast Region (RACCS) of Nicaragua by improving the capacity of populations vulnerable to climate change to develop strategies for engaging local, municipal, and regional governments. Through this approach, LGP is fostering an informed dialogue between the key stakeholders in the region which will take place in two distinct forums. The first forum took place on February 24-25, 2015 and examined the current impact of climate change, as well as existing experience in climate change adaptation in the region and around the world. The forum was attended by 142 people, 50 percent of whom were women; representatives of 49 different organizations, 13 State institutions, six international organizations, three universities, two territorial governments, community leaders, the Catholic Church; and representative from seven media outlets. Also present at the event was Kyle Rearick, Ph.D., a Climate Change & Governance Advisor for USAID who provided his expertise on the topic throughout the event. The forum presented current public policy, impact scenarios, and the role of community stakeholders in effective adaptation planning. At the opening ceremony of the event, US Ambassador Phyllis M. Powers reiterated the importance of community participation in the preparation of these plans. Randy Lyness, Global Communities’ Director of Program Operations, also addressed the conference: “Climate change affects us all, but there are some who are more exposed to the negative effects, including regions in Nicaragua and the Costa Sur Caribe Autonomous Region, in particular, being a coastal area and very close to sea level.”
Lyness continued: “In this situation, it is clear that working with communities is the best strategy. The people know their own land best, know the variations that have occurred in recent years, and also have ancestral knowledge of the Caribbean coast and environmentally friendly practices. It is urgent then that the people generate appropriate strategies so they can adapt to climate change.”
During the forum the stakeholders from the different communities and municipalities generated ideas for the preparation of community and municipal plans. These plans will be presented at the second forum which will take place in next year. The forum provided an opportunity for communities and local authorities to network and paved the way for future collaboration and advocacy. With an environment of mutual respect, public officials recognized the value of public consultation while community advocates were emboldened to provide their opinions on climate change and the fundamental rights of the public to be actively engaged in planning for the futures of their communities. Among the partnerships forged during the event was an offer to join forces from the UNDP to work with LGP in the upcoming climate change awareness campaigns, provide solid waste management training to the six communities involved in this climate change pilot, while LGP will train UNDP`s technical employees in family gardens and water harvesting, increasing the outreach of the program. Recognizing that the inclusion and participation of local media to promote citizen participation and civic advocacy is integral to educating the public on local governance issues and civic advocacy efforts such as climate change, the media also attended the forum and published four articles, helping to provide awareness on the topic.